John 7 - Jesus Teaches At the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus Reveals Who He is And the People Are Divided!

Click Here to Read or Listen to John 7

Jesus Goes to the Festival of Tabernacles

Feast of Tabernacles: This was a joyful, weeklong celebration in September or October when families camped out in temporary shelters to remember God’s faithfulness to Israel in the wilderness on the way from Egypt to Canaan under Moses. - Guzik 

Though Jesus knew it would be dangerous to go to the Feast, his disicples urged him so that more people could see his see the works he was doing. They had a worldly perspective and thought this would be good for public relations. After all even his brothers did not believe in him. 

Many a man faced with cruel opposition in public life has been sustained by the faith and faithfulness of his kith and kin. Jesus was denied this solace.” (Morris)

Jesus told his brothers to go on ahead of him, because it was not his "time" yet. But a little while later Jesus went in secret. The people were making comments wondering where he was. Some thought he was a "good man". Others thought he was a "deceiver". Opinion is also split 50/50 against Jesus, as is still the case today. Some believe in Him others don't. But the one thing is you cannot "moderately" believe in Jesus. He has not left that option open to us. 

Jesus Teaches at the Festival

Jesus not only showed up but taught at the festival, which seems really risky considering his thoughts about going in the first place. Once again the people were amazed at his teaching. They wondered how he was so gifted because he didn't not have the training of a traditional rabbi. Jesus tells them, "the proof is in the pudding". He you obey his teaching you would see it is God's will. 

It reminds me that a lot of people study God's Word, but do they do what it says. Since the people rejected Moses' teaching about the Law, Jesus doubted if they would put his teaching into practice. Then Jesus asked, "Why are you trying to kill me?" They responded in disbelief wondering if the demons had gotten a hold of him. 

The people didn’t know that the rulers wanted to kill Jesus because He healed a man on the Sabbath (John 5:16). They thought Jesus was crazy and perhaps paranoid. - Guzik 

Division Over Who Jesus Is

Since Jesus was teaching publicly the people wondered why the Pharisees were not rebuking him. In fact, they were nowhere to be seen. They mistakenly assumed that because they knew where Jesus was from in Nazareth that he was not the Messiah. But apparently they didn't remember the prophets who said, "He will be called a Nazarene." Matthew 2:23

The word spread to the Pharisees and they sent a guard to arrest him. Jesus let them know he will only be with them for a short time and they would not be able to go where he went. The Jews naturally assumed he would be out to the Gentiles to reach them with the Good News, since that was also prophesied. 

Click Here to See A Bunch of Old Testament Verses Which Prophesy the Gentiles Coming to the Messiah

On the last day of the Festival the water would come flowing through the temple as a sign of God's living water. 

The Feast of Tabernacles lasted eight days. All through the first seven days water from the Pool of Siloam was carried in a golden pitcher and poured out at the altar to remind everyone of the water God miraculously provided for a thirsty Israel in the wilderness. It seems that on the eighth day there was no pouring of water – only prayers for water – to remind them that they came into the Promised Land. = Guzik

Jesus connects the flowing water with the Holy Spirit, who he would later give to his disciples. Like the bread, Jesus used a common commodity like water to show how those who relied on and communed with Him would receive eternal life. He is emphasizing the personal nature of our relationship with Him. Just as everyday we have bread and water, everyday Jesus is in our lives. I.e. John 15, "Whoever abides in me and I in them will bear much fruit!" John 15:4

They recogized through these words that Jesus was a prophet, but again they were divided. They were confused because they thought the Messiah would come from Bethlehem through David's descendants not Galilee. But they were ignorant of the fact Jesus was born in Bethlehem, as Mary and Joseph came to register for the census because they were from the house and line of David.

“The word rendered division implies a violent dissension – some taking up His cause, some wishing to lay hands on Him.” (Alford)

ii. The division didn’t come because Jesus spoke foolishly, or because He spoke on a theologically controversial topic. He spoke about Himself, the Messiah – and He spoke clearly, not in dark mysterious sayings. - Guzik

Unbelief of the Jewish Leaders

When the temple guards went back to the chief priests and the Pharisees, they reported the impact Jesus was having on the crowds and even them. This ticked them off and then denigrated the mob of people who were believing in Jesus as if they were ignorant. 

Meanwhile Nicodemus had returned to being a Jewish leader after his encounter with Jesus in John 4, where he was born again. He stuck up for Jesus saying, "Can a person be condemned without a trial."

The Pharisees were equally disgusted with him saying, "Whar are you from Galilee too?" They also in ignorance said Jesus was from Galilee so he could not be the Messiah. 

The religious leaders who lived in Jerusalem and Judea despised the people of Galilee, and often mocked them. To these religious leaders from Judea, nothing good could come from Galilee. - Guzik